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What's the Ideal Arsenal?

#21
Well, first off, a coupla SWR Megoliath cabs, and a few Mo' Bass Amps for kicks, then whatever JT's Playing through (elf, ect..) :D

Then (all fretted):

My Ibanez GSR200- gotta go with what you know, and it's my favorite 4 ever.

Conklin GT7

Stingray Fiver

Warwick Thumb Bolt On 6er

that's about it.



 
#22
i just like to have a few all around different basses for when I record in the studio with my original band. I'm alway's wheelin & dealin and changing up my arsenal in search of the perfect handful of basses to compliment my playing style. After 24 yrs and many basses I think I'm pretty close to my perfect arsenal.
 
#23
my ideal arsenal, in no particular order:

1. 70's Rickenbacker 4001
2. '57 Fender Precision - I said ideal, not feasible!
3. 80's Spector NS-2
4. early-70's jazz bass - hey, so I like maple fretboards on Fenders... I also like those block inlays on 70's jazzes.
5. MusicMan Stingray 5 - I suppose I should have at least one 5-string.
6. short-scale Alembic - I like the idea of a neck-through short-scale bass. again, ideal, not feasible.
7. well, I might as well put my Carvin LB-20 on here, too.

okay, one out of seven ain't.. er.. bad...
 
#24
here's mine:

1. jazz style fretted (my main for now)
2. jazz style fretted (my backup (maple fingerboard))
3. jazz style fretless
4. 4+ string bass (torn between p-bass 5 delux, and a conklin 7)
5. fernandez nomad (for practicing in tight/remote places)
6. ashbory (although later i would prob like to have a full upright)
7. multiple octave bass (8,12,15, whatever)
8. recording bass
9. a bass with a mm style pup (musicman stngry or sabre, G&L)
10. a frankenbass of my own construction
11. my own "signature line" bass :D


[Edited by pierce on 10-29-2000 at 07:51 PM]
 
#25
Ok.....

I really like my arsenal; got pretty much everything covered...

My Roscoe Beck 5 for just about ANYTHING. Slap, rock, blues or whatever.

My Rick 4001V63 for a more aggressive tone for rock, and where I want to feature the bass a bit more.

My MM Sterling fretless for acoustic stuff, ballads, and other fretless applications.

About the only bass I could conceive adding would be an old-wood P-bass...but it's really not necessary and maintaining 3 basses is enough for me :)
 
#26
i think i have close to my ideal arsenal (see profile). the only thing missing is the fretted 8 string, the RMC synth/piezo retro-fit on my doubleneck, a fretless maple neck replacement for my bolt-on 7 string, and my hollow body 7 string fretted, all of which are pretty much overdue - at least the 8 string, the hollowbody and the fretless neck, which have been in the "almost done" part of limbo the past few months (conklin has been swamped all year) :( (sigh).

still though, the only thing left after them will be a fretless white hollowbody 7 that barbara promised me as a wedding gift. geez, i need to get her THE ring already - too much money on basses and not enough on "important fashion accessories for the woman in my life". :D
 
#27
i think i've finally put together my dream arsenal without spending too much money(would have like to have gotten a sadowsky but i couldn't justify having that AND the 55-94...at least not yet :D).

1.Lakland 55-94 maple neck -my super do it all fiver, pretty much does j-bass tones and musicman tones flawlessly

2.Warwick 4-string Thumb N/T -gives a great growly j-bass impression and DOPE modern slap tone

3.MM 4-string Sterling - Just nice to have around for old school finger funk or slap!

...oh yeah, one last thing, you gotta play thru an EDEN!!!!

P.S. still working on the skills to play a six/fretless/upright :D

[Edited by zender976 on 10-29-2000 at 11:54 PM]
 
#28
My collection is based more on opportunity than anything. The funny thing is, I usually have an opportunity to get what I want, most often at a very low price. I have basses for any situation I come upon.

Right place, right time, great credit.
 
#29
I used to go hither and yon, buying basses for the hell of it, with no real idea about "building an arsenal." Now that I'm down to three passive basses, I've been thinking about it again.
My Rumblefish XL-4 gets a killer Jazz and MusicMan tone, and if you dial the tone control all the way around, it can sound like a P-bass or an old Gibson. The one thing I have a hankering for is an active Jazz-style bass made out of nice wood. If my Carl Thompson doesn't work out, I'm going to sell it and look into an Elrick New Jazz Standard. Or wait a few years and get a Sadowsky.
As far as fretless and extended range basses, I've concluded that I can't justify owning any. But if I needed either one for a studio situation, I have a good friend I can borrow them from.
 
#34
Nanook; I have already instructed "she" that my Lakland is goin' with me if I check out first.

I think I have my ultimate aresenal:

-Rosewood dlx 55 Lakland = active Jazz/Musicman
-Maple Roscoe L3005 = active P-bass
-Steinberger Spirit 5 = travel
-Rosewood Redulla Rapture 5 = excess to the Lakland, but the wife doesn't want me to sell, maybe I'll convert it to fretless.
-Rosewood '66 Jazz
-Maple '75 P (I have an extra Jazz neck which might end up here)

The only thing missing is the Sadowsky, but since I don't record anyway, I don't need it.

Life is good.
 
#35
1. Passive Fender Style bass - my preference is the G&L SB-2 which is, IMO, the best passive bass Leo Fender ever designed

2. A second passive Fender strung with flatwounds - again you can't go wrong with an SB-2

3. A versatile active bass - I use a G&L L-2000 which has a huge range of tone colours available

4. A versatile 5 string - again the G&L L-2500 is a great bass for the same reasons as its 4 string counterpart

5. A fretless bass can be useful and since I prefer a very warm and woody tone I chose the Godin A4

6. A classic non-Fender - Gibson Ripper (2 humbuckers - very warm and punchy) a great smooth yet articulate alternative to a Fender and definately one of the best basses Gibson ever made

7. Rickenbacker 4001 - extra warm AND extra bright at the same time - a must for classic McCartney type lines

 
#36
Well, I've gone through quite a few basses, and I'm still trying to settle on my fretted bass. I find that my quiver depends on what music I'm playing...although my Lightwave has changed my opinion somewhat. I've made the leap from 4 to 5, so here's what I use:

5-string Zon Lightwave fretless. Don't need another fretless. Hell, I rarely play a fretted bass even. I fell in love with this bass at the store, but what really blew my mind was the first recording/group session. The first rehearsal with this bass (fusion trio), we also recorded direct to disk (DI out of my iAmp 600 head). Unbelievable tone. Sits perfect in the mix. Both the guitarist and drummer said "that sounds awesome". I did a few tunes with my Lakland 55-94 deluxe and it *paled* in comparison.

5-string fretted. I still haven't found "the one" yet. I've gone through a few Sadowskys's, and am currently fiddling with a Zon, Lakland, and Ken Lawrence. The 34" v. 35" scale thing is an issue with me, so I don't know how this will end up. I play fretless about 90% of the time, but you gotta have a fretted bass for some tunes.

Other than that, more basses are just a luxury for me. But then again, I'm not trying to capture a certain tone or vibe...I'm just trying to get something that I think sounds good.
 

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